The Red War

Lore & Background

Dominus Ghaul, a ruthless usurper who held the rank of Dominus while the exiled Emperor Calus bore the true imperial title, orchestrated this assault to secure the Traveler's energy for his own empire. He and the Consul leveraged Cabal intelligence on humanity's defenses, but had no pre-invasion mastery of the Light. When the invasion began, the Vanguard was caught off guard, and the Tower fell within moments. The most devastating consequence was the theft of the Guardians' Light. Ghaul used the physical Traveler Cage device to sever the connection between Ghosts and the Traveler, cutting off their access to the Light. Crucially, the bond between each Ghost and its Guardian remained intact, leaving the protectors of humanity powerless but not disconnected from their companions. This forced the surviving Guardians into hiding or desperate resistance while the Red Legion occupied the City and enslaved its population.

In Their Own Story

The sky burned crimson as the Dreadnaught eclipsed the sun. I stood in the Tower plaza, my Ghost flickering weakly beside me. Cabal boots crunched on the marble where we once celebrated victories. Ghaul's voice boomed from every speaker, a promise of order through absolute subjugation. My hands felt heavy, empty without the golden glow that had defined my existence for centuries. We were just people now, vulnerable and broken. Yet, even in the shadows of the occupied City, I saw a spark in a fellow Guardian's eyes. The Light could be taken, but it could not be extinguished forever.

Reader's Guide

The conflict begins with an unprovoked assault on Earth by Dominus Ghaul and his fleet. The Cabal forces overwhelm the City defenses, capturing key Vanguard leaders and occupying public spaces. Guardians are stripped of their powers as Ghaul severs the link between Ghosts and their charges. Surviving Guardians must regroup in secret to plan a counteroffensive against the overwhelming enemy presence on Earth and in orbit. The resistance focuses on infiltrating the enemy flagship, the Dreadnaught, which orbits above the planet. This mission requires stealth and combat prowess as the Guardian navigates through high-security Cabal zones. Key objectives include sabotaging Ghaul's operations and locating the device responsible for suppressing the Light. Alongside allies like Ikora Rey, the Guardian pushes deeper into enemy territory despite heavy odds. The climax occurs at the heart of the Dreadnaught where a final confrontation takes place against Dominus Ghaul himself. Upon his defeat, the suppression technology fails, allowing Ghosts to reconnect with their Guardians. This victory restores the Light and liberates the Last City from occupation. The war ends with Cabal forces retreating from Earth, though tensions remain across the solar system.

Did You Know?

• It was the first major story event in Destiny 2's launch campaign.
• Dominus Ghaul was the first Cabal Dominus to set foot on Earth, though he never held the title of Emperor.
• The Tower was physically occupied by enemy forces during this time.
• Guardians temporarily lost their supernatural powers during most of the conflict.